Yukon Territory

  • population: 36,919
  • capital city: Whitehorse
  • about 75% of the population of Yukon lives near Whitehorse
  • summer temperatures reach 25º C or more
  • winter temperatures range from +4º C to as low as -51º C
  • Yukon Quest – “the toughest sled dog race in the world” runs every year for more than a thousand miles between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse

The Yukon is known for its unique music festivals, especially during the summer months when we have 18 to 20 hours or more of daylight. There is a burst of energy in the Yukon during those longer days, and people like to put away their parkas, sing, dance, and listen to great music.

Music Yukon - Helping artists achieve their artistic, career and business goals

MUSIC YUKON

Music Yukon is a Music Industry Association established in 1998. We offer our members a number of training initiatives including songwriting workshops, and informal business workshops/networking events with specific topics, such as Increasing Your Social Media Profile or How to Maximize Artist Royalties.

Our mandate is not only focused on training, but also finding ways for our artists to perform, and like other music associations, we’re looking for ways to support our exporting musicians.

We’ve got a unique scene. There are lots of places where you can build your chops locally. On any given weekend, you could probably go to at least 20-30 live events. For a town of 26,000, we have a really vibrant live scene.

Each summer we present our flagship music and visual arts festival, called Arts in the Park. It’s probably the only festival/concert series in Canada that runs daily right throughout the summer months, and is free to the public.

We’re also looking at ways to bring more activities like Arts in the Park, into our smaller communities.

Music Yukon is a music industry association partner of the Western Canadian Music Alliance.

Music Yukon logo

Explore the Territory of Yukon

Northern Lights Over Lake

Yukon is the “land of the midnight sun” so if you come to tour in the summer prepare for a seismic shift in your biorhythms. High energy until all hours is the order of the day throughout the summer.

Music festivals, mountain climbing hiking and biking, canoeing, kayaking and generally enjoying the outdoors is the way things roll around here.

Winters are a bit more laid back and the hours of sunlight greatly reduced but if cross country skiing or dog sledding under the northern lights appeals to you, Yukon is the place to be.

Great local music acts, Home Routes house concerts, many touring acts from jazz to classical, roots to rock, Francophone to First Nations music all perform regularly throughout the winter at the Yukon Arts Centre, Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre and the Old Firehall.

Blue Feather Festival01

For more general information about the Territory of Yukon, please visit:

www.musicyukon.com

www.gov.YK.ca

www.travelyukon.com

www.nmc.ca/regional-music–spotlight-the-yukon

Key Regions in the Territory of Yukon

Whitehorse population 23,276

Key venues/clubs: Yukon Arts Centre, Old Firehall, Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Gold Rush Saloon, Jarvis Street Saloon, Dirty Northern Public House, Lizards Lounge, Kopper King, Club 867

Key radio: CJUC The Juice, CKRW The Rush, CHON Aboriginal

Universities/Colleges: Yukon College

Dawson City population 1,319

Key venues/clubs: Westminster Tavern & Lounge, Downtown Hotel, Midnight Sun Hotel

Key radio: CHON Dawson City, CFWH-570 CBC Radio 1 – Dawson City, CFYT Spirit of Dawson

Universities/Colleges: Yukon School of Visual Arts

Yukon's major festivals

Dawson City Music Festival

http://www.dcmf.com/Minto Park , Dawson City, YT

The Dawson City Music Festival Association celebrates and supports its local environment by presenting world-class grassroots musical programming in Dawson.

The 38th annual Dawson City Music Festival will take place July 22nd – 24th 2016 in the beautiful Klondike Valley under the wondrous midnight sun. Although remote, our festival brings spectators from across the world to participate in one of the Yukon’s biggest events.

Festival alumni include: Bruce Cockburn, the Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, the Constantines, the Rheostatics, The Deep Dark Woods, Jane Siberry, Born Ruffians, Sylvia Tyson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Elliott Brood, Owen Pallett, the Sadies, Natalie Macmaster, Rich Aucoin, and Corb Lund.

Atlin Arts & Music Festival

http://www.atlinfestival.ca/Atlin, BC

The Atlin Arts and Music Festival is a three day celebration of music, visual art, film and community. This family friendly festival features a diverse musical lineup including local, national and international artists.

The festival is held in Atlin Lake, BC, which is roughly 200 km. south of Whitehorse. Camping is available in the main camping grounds adjacent to the Festival Grounds.

Festival alumni include: Ian Tysan, Harry Manx, Hawksley Workman, Michelle Wright, Keven Breit, Emm Gryner, David Lindley, Big Soul, Tom Jackson, and Colin Linden.

Blue Feather Music Festival

http://bluefeathermusic.ca/Whitehorse, YT

The Blue Feather Music Festival aims to inspire, encourage and support our young People to develop the gifts that the Creator has given them, through music & the arts. The Blue Feather is a symbol of Hope.

Festival alumni include: Sierra Noble, Common Knowledge, The Project, George Leach, Steve Salas, Sass Jordan, The Midnight Sons Band, and Buffy Sainte Marie.

Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival

http://yukonbluegrass.com/Haines Junction, YT

The Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival is now well into its second decade, attracting international audiences and world-class performers to Haines Junction, Yukon, where we present the best bluegrass bands in North America in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.

Located at the foot of the Saint Elias Mountain Range, the festival features top international performers alongside talented Yukon musicians.

Come and experience a weekend of fabulous music and Yukon hospitality. There will be opportunities to jam, visit, glory in the beautiful scenery and soak up the midnight sun. Award-winning bands, three days of concerts, workshops, and our famous Sunday Gospel Show.

Festival alumni include: Blue Highway, Balsam Range, Dailey and Vincent, Claire Lynch, Dale Ann Bradley, Steep Canyon Rangers, Grasstowne, Michael Cleveland, Junior Sisk, James King, the Spinney Brothers, and Flatt Lonesome.

 

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